Remote Surveillance Through Cell Phone
By Hazimin Sulaiman
PANASONIC Malaysia Sdn Bhd is working with Maxis Communications Bhd to offer a remote security surveillance service for home users and retail outlet operators.
The service combines an Internet protocol (IP)-based Panasonic Security Network Camera with Maxis’ remote surveillance solution. For a flat fee of RM20 (for unlimited viewing), users can access live images on their mobile phones through general packet radio service (GPRS) or third-generation (3G).
To avoid users from draining their battery flat, each session is timed for three minutes. Users can reconnect, which is unlimited, at no additional cost.
The service is provided by JW Networks Sdn Bhd, a Maxis authorised service provider.
Panasonic Malaysia’s associate director, business systems division Jeff Lee said the collaboration with Maxis is timely in view of consumers’ concern for security, especially in homes.
“All Maxis customers (prepaid or postpaid) need to do is go to the Maxis portal (wap.maxis.com.my) with their mobile phone’s browser and choose Lifestyle, Remote Surveillance and download the Java application into their phone. The application is compatible with all 3G/GPRS/Java-enabled mobile phones which support J2ME (Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition) or MIDP 2.0.”
According to Maxis’ product and new business head Nikolai Dobberstein, installation of the cameras is easy since they are treated like network devices, which, depending on the models, can be connected through IP through a wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi environment.
The number of cameras is unlimited, depending on the user’s network.
The video feeds can be recorded by a computer in the network. Users need to register their network camera with a dynamic domain name server or the Viewnetcam provided free through the Internet. This can also be done through Maxis mobile phones. Once activated, the network camera’s feeds can be viewed from the mobile phone or PC.
On the possibility of others tapping into the video feeds, JW Networks’ executive director William Lim assured users that on the front line, there are at least two layers of username and password required: one on the phone, the other on the IP camera.
The Panasonic Network Security Camera starts at RM450 while the Maxis Remote Surveillance Package subscription is at RM20 per month with unlimited viewing and no data usage charges.
For businesses, Panasonic has applied Zero Distance Management technology to give significant savings in travel time and labour costs, operating efficiency and to help improve communications and customer service. More information can be found at www.panasonic.com.my.
According to Lee, Panasonic managed to sell almost 3,000 units of static location monitoring cameras in Malaysia last year. With the new range of IP remote security cameras, the company aims to double that figure, given the attractive solutions available to the public.
(c) 2007 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.